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Guillaume Apollinaire (1880–1918,) born Wilhelm Albert Wlodzimierz Apolinary Kostrowicki, was an Italian-born French poet, playwright, short story writer, novelist, and art critic. He is considered one of the foremost poets of the early 20th century, as well as one of the forefathers of surrealism. He is credited with coining the word “surrealism”, and writing one of the earliest works described as surrealist, the play The Breasts of Tiresias.

Without poets, without artists, men would soon weary of nature’s monotony. The sublime idea men have of the universe would collapse with dizzying speed. The order which we find in nature, and which is only an effect of art, would at once vanish. Everything would break up in chaos. There would be no seasons, no civilization, no thought, no humanity; even life would give way, and the impotent void would reign everywhere.—Guillaume ApollinaireTopics: Art, Artists

“Come to the edge,” he said. They said, “We are afraid.” “Come to the edge,” he said. They came. He pushed them … and they flew!.—Guillaume ApollinaireTopics: Fear, Courage